What to Watch in the Theater:
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (PG13) opens today. This sequel (and 5th in the franchise) picks up 3 years after the first JW – Isla Nubla is about to be destroyed by a volcano, and John Hammond’s original partner wants to save the dinosaurs. Claire and Owen join forces, along with a techie and a dino veterinarian, but all is not what it seems. Everything is larger than life here – from the action-packed island destruction sequences, to the evil villains and plot twists. The dinosaurs are spectacular, as always, with many more species than we’ve previously seen. And yes, Claire finally wears boots! The story is bookended by Ian Malcolm, and there’s a cute kid in the mix. It’s an exciting journey that blends action/adventure with elements of horror and some homages to the original Jurassic Park.
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Tag (R) is in theaters now. Five guys have been playing the same game of tag for 30 years. Every month of May they reconnect, showing up in disguise or at major life events to continue the game. One of the friends, Jerry, has never been tagged, and wants to retire from the game. The other four try to finally get him, without completely ruining his wedding in the process. It’s a funny premise based on a true story, which actually works as a movie. The camaraderie makes the slapstick come together with a good dose of heart, and an important message about friendship. This one’s rated R for some seriously adult language, but otherwise it’s just great fun.
Our rating: 4.33 out of 5
What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
I Kill Giants (not rated) is on DVD and streaming on Hulu. Based on a graphic novel, this movie fell prey to some bad marketing. It’s not an action adventure, and it isn’t full of magic and special effects. It’s a story about a girl who feels she needs to save her town from giants. She’s clearly going through something, and we learn more as the story builds. Barbara is seen as a strange girl, and she’s bullied, but stands strong. She has a purpose, and she dedicates herself to it with her entire being. When she meets a new friend and a school psychologist, her life gets even more complicated, and we finally get a glimpse at the real giant she’s battling. It’s an important, emotional journey, that should be seen for what it is, and not belittled for what it isn’t.
Our rating: 4 out of 5
Lost in Space Season 1 (TVPG) is a Netflix series based on the beloved SciFi classic. If you’re a fan of the original, like we are, it may take some time to adjust to this retelling. The Robinsons are now a blended family, Dr. Smith is a woman, the robot is scary, and our little group is marooned along with other families from the same colony. Of course the special effects and scenery are superb. Although we miss the camp of the original, once we adjusted to this being a dramatic series, we were pulled in to the storyline of our castaways, and can’t wait to see what perils they face in Season 2. Loving the strong female characters – Maureen, Judy and Penny have come a long way from tending to household duties and being damsels in distress – and Dr. Smith is pure evil, in a seriously unhinged kind of way.
Our rating: 4.25 out of 5
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